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what could you gain by taking a good hard look at your business and asking some tough questions?

If you’re like most organizations, plenty. And what you learn through the process has the power to bring your marketing messages into better alignment with what your customers are looking for. Continue reading →

Like most of you, I subscribe to several industry newsletters. And like most of you, I don’t make time to read them. A select few, however, always get my attention—like this one from David C. Baker titled “Why No One Wants to Read Your Newsletters.”

One of David’s points hit me square in the face. Rather than generate “news” and “content” that people may not care about (or may ignore completely) provide insight that will cause them to reflect on your message, save it, or forward it.

“Make people think. Take a stand. Articulate a viewpoint,” David says.

So here I go…about to take a stand. Articulate a viewpoint. Provide insight. Continue reading →

To be effective in marketing, you have to see things from the customer’s point of view.

You have to put your own thoughts, feelings and assumptions aside, and see things from the customer’s perspective. It starts by understanding who they really are, what they think of you, and what they want or need.

But the answers to these questions don’t come from within your four walls. They require us to step outside, talk to customers and prospects, and develop an accurate understanding of what is important to them—asking for directions, if you will. Continue reading →

Core values. Key messages. Positioning statements. Logo usage. These are just a few of the elements you need to have in place in order to support a strong marketing program. There are many more (read on for the full checklist) but because of how they’re packaged it can be confusing to know whether or not you have all the pieces. Continue reading →

You have brand standards (don’t you?). You have a marketing plan (right?). You think you’re ready to take the world by storm. But there’s one piece missing:

a messaging platform.

The messaging platform doesn’t always get the love it deserves because it’s often tucked into a branding guide or a marketing plan, so most people don’t recognize it for what it is. More likely, however, it’s overlooked altogether. Continue reading →

Spending money on marketing without a marketing plan is kind of like filling up your car with gas and going in circles around your neighborhood until you’re running on fumes. You’re out the cost of a tank of fuel, and you haven’t gone anywhere you haven’t been before.Continue reading →

More than once I’ve seen companies glom onto the latest marketing cure-all because they think it will change everything. More than once I’ve seen them fail because they haven’t considered its appropriateness for their business model or audience. Continue reading →

Client Love

The name of Tiffany's business speaks volumes as she really does think with her whole brain. She offers the complete package, or just what you need to complete a project creatively...print and web, writing to project coordination. Indeed, her approach to design is to listen to what is needed, understand the request and provide an end product that'll make you shine.”

Tiffany is a truly creative professional who evaluates client needs, produces work that fits exactly with those needs, and does it in a timely, efficient, and cost-effective way. And, as an added bonus, she is wonderfully easy to work with!

— Larry Pederson, Business Development Manager, Oregon Manufacturing Extension Partnership, (client since 2010 with City of Hillsboro)

From day one, Tiffany has been creative, supportive, organized, on-time with projects, thinks outside the box and is a pleasure to work with. Give Tiffany a challenge and she will find a solution. I highly recommend Tiffany and the skill set and professionalism she brings to any project.

I've hired Tiffany Estes for projects too numerous to mention. Her thoroughness and attention to detail are amazing. More importantly, her ability to quickly understand the goal and create a clean, bold design keeps me coming back for more. It is rare that my projects aren't completed after one revision cycle. Tiffany is also an excellent writer — a rare find for someone so skilled at design.

I recommend Tiffany without hesitation for creative services projects. I have hired her for various services including web design, writing, logo design, brochure design/layout, style guide creation, flyer template creation, and more. I have also worked with her on volunteer committees. Her creativity, commitment, teamwork, professionalism and quality results remain consistent no matter what the project.

Tiffany has a rare combination of traits not often found simultaneously in designers: great artistic skills, understanding of brand/marketing strategy and excellent follow-through. Every time we work together, I know she will deliver excellent work on time, and will be extremely easy to work with. It doesn't get much better than that!